Pocket-knife.



Nu. 532,792. Patented Sept. l2, I899.

J. A. SCHMIDT.

POCKET KNIFE. (Application filed Mar. 13, 1999.

{No Model.)

inventor;

KUKZFZZ A .[V w? L s Pzrzns co, mmaumu. wAsH NGTON' n c NrrED STATESPATENT Darren.

JACOB ALBERT SCHMIDT, OF SOLINGEN, GERMANY.

POCKET- KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,792, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed March 13, 1899. Serial Ila-708,878. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that L-IAOOB ALBERT SCHMIDT, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Solingen, in the Province of Rhenish Prussia,Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPocket-Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Myinventiou relates to animproved pocketknife which isespeciallyintended for artisans, mechanics, gas-fitters, and like workpeople who have often outdoor work to do, whereby they require varioussmall instrumentssuch as various knives,pinoers, screw-drivers, gimlets,awls, and similar small toolsand my object is to combine these toolswith a pocketknife in such a manner that certain of them i. a, the usualcutting-bladesare permanentlyfixedto the knife,whereas others,which arenot so regularly usedas, for instance, gimlets, screw-drivers, andcorkscrews-can be connected to the knife in an exchangeable manner, sothat they can be conveniently fixed thereto or taken off and exchangedfor others. One main tool,which, however, must form a permanent fixtureof the same, is a set of pincers, the movable shank of which servesindirectly for securely fixing the exchangeable tools.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the new pocket-knife withthe pincers open and the spring throwing them open in such a positionthat the exchangeable tools can be put in place or taken out thereof.Fig. 2 shows the same with the pincers closed and the exchangeableinstrument-an awl in the case represented-held so that it cannot betaken out and securely fixed for use; and Fig. 3 shows various tools asexamples which can be used.

The handle of my new pocket-knife is by preference made of metal, sothat at the same time it can serve as a scale or measuring-ruler.

Like ordinary pocket-knives, my new knife consists of two or morecompartments between the two outside covering-plates which form thehandle, and separated from each other by intermediate plates. In thesecompartments are laid the different cutting-blades, as usual, so thatthey can be opened and closed by turning them 011 a pin or rivet, andtheyare hold in either position by the ordinary spring.

In Fig. 1, A shows the usual big knife-blade. B indicates the cover orhandle plate, which in this case is wholly of metal and provided with ascale to serve as a measuring-rule. At one end one of the plates B endsin a thumb like projection O, which, together with a similar projectionO of the shank or lever D in the first compartment nearest to the plateB and turning on apin E, forms a pair of tongs which can be opened andclosed, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. A spring F, (indicated in dottedlines and placed below the lever D,) held. fast in the same compartmentof the knife by a pin D and bearing against a finger G of the lever D,throws this outward when it is not pressed down by hand and held inthisclosed position, Fig. 2, by a pawl H, held movably on a'pin J at theother end of the knife.

Below the spring F are arranged two pins K and K. The pin K'serves as anabutment for the spring F, and at the same time, in connection with thepin K, its object is to serve as a support for the exchangeable tools,which are fixed to the knife in the following manner: These tools, asindicated in Fig.3, are all provided with a flat head L, fitting inthickness exactly into the open space below the spring F in the firstcompartment of the knife. At one side this head is beveled or tapered,the oblique edge M ending in a recess h of the width of the pin K. Theupper side N of the head is straight, whereas the other side ends in asuitable tool, as shown .in dotted lines in the drawings in the fourexamples shown. When the tongs are open, the head of any one of thesetools is inserted into the knife with its recess M upon the pin K, itsoblique side bearing against the pin K. Then the lever D is presseddown, its finger G pressing down the spring F, so that the lower side ofthe spring presses upon the side N of the tool-head, and thus holds itfirmly and securely in place. The pawl H is then placed over the end ofthe lever D and isheld there also by a catch 0 at the end of this lever,so that now the tool in the knife stands out perpendicularly from thesame, Fig. 1, while the knife itself forms a true handle for therespective tool.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pocket-knife, a handle having compartments for the blades, aflat spring attached at one end within said handle, two pins passingtransversely through said handle, one obliquely above the other, atoolhead provided with a recess on one side and a projection above saidrecess, said recess being adapted to fit over the lower of said 'pins,and said projection to rest against the upper pin, and means forpressing down and fastening the free end of said spring so as to clampthe said tool-head in place, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pocket-knife, a handle, a tool-head adapted to be detachablyinserted perpendicnlarly in said handle, a fiat spring in said handleabove said tool-head, and a lever adapted to depress one end of saidspring and thus clamp the tool-head in position, substantially as setforth.

3. In a pocket-knife, a covering-plate B having a projection C, a leverD having a finger G at its lower side, a catch 0 at one end and aprojection O at the other end forming together with the projection C acatch 0 in the lever end, pins Kand Kpassing through the knife in thehollow space below spring F and a tool-head L having a straight top N,an oblique side M and arecess M fitting upon pin K so that when thespring F is pressed down the oblique side M rests upon the pin K therebybeing connected rigidly to the knife, the whole as described andillustrated and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a pocket-knife, a handle, a projection on said handle forming apincer-jaw, a lever pivoted in said handle, one end of said leverforming the other pincer-jaw, a flat spring fastened in said handle, anda tool head adapted to be detachably inserted in said handle and clampedtherein by said spring, said lever being adapted to depress one end ofsaid spring to efiect said clamping, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed m y signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JACOB ALBERT SCHMIDT. Vitnesses:

R. G. J AHN, OTTO KdNIG.

